From the spooky to the boozy to the adorable, find the top San Diego Halloween events here.
Edited by Lisa Kelley
For the Family:
Brick-or-Treat
Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29. Legoland California hosts a weekly Halloween celebration every Saturday in October. Guests will watch as the park transforms into a not-too-spooky Halloween party featuring a Ghost Cruise adventure, fall festival with a pumpkin patch building activity, treat stations and more. One Legoland Dr., Carlsbad, 760.918.5346. legoland.com
Boomont Park Fall Festival and Haunt
Oct. 1-31. Enjoy family-friendly Halloween festivities each weekend in October. The spooky-themed park features free trick-or-treating, zombie laser tag, pumpkin patch and pumpkin painting, costume contests and more. 3146 Mission Blvd., Mission Beach, 858.228.9286. belmontpark.com
Haunted Aquarium: Spooky Science!
Oct. 21-22. Enjoy close encounters with Scripps Institution of Oceanography scientists and search the galleries for unusual underwater creatures rarely seen at Birch Aquarium. Discover a sea of glowing beasts, get sticky with slime and enjoy shipwrecked stories, all while boogieing down to live music. 6-9 p.m. 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla, 858.534.7336. aquarium.ucsd.edu
SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular
Weekends Sept. 24-Oct. 30. Where can kids meet some spooky and not-so-spooky animals, and trick-or-treat in a sea-inspired atmosphere? It’s all part of SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular, where kids can dress up in their Halloween best and go on a trick-or-treating adventure throughout the park. Families won’t want to miss SeaWorld’s Halloween-themed shows, including Clyde & Seamore’s Big Halloween Bash at Sea Lion and Otter Stadium and Sesame Street’s Who Said Boo? at Mission Bay Theater. New this year will be a themed area celebrating Dia de los Muertos, where colorful papel picado flags, vibrant ofrendas and large catrinas will invite guests to learn about and take part in the festivities of this traditional Mexican holiday. 500 Sea World Dr., Mission Bay. SeaWorldParks.com
Balboa Park Halloween Family Day
Oct. 29. For a free family-friendly Halloween celebration, head to Balboa Park’s annual festivities. More than two dozen participating museums and attractions present craft projects, costume parades, contests and more. Highlights include a doggie costume contest in Spanish Village, the rooftop pumpkin drop at the San Diego Air & Space Museum food trucks, and prizes. Participating museums offer free admission to children 12 and under with a paying adult. 2131 Pan American Plaza, Balboa Park. balboapark.org
Trick-or-Treat on India Street
Oct. 28. Little Italy comes alive with little ghouls, witches and goblins as the neighborhood’s businesses along historic India Street and West Fir Street open their doors to give out candy and Halloween treats. 5:30-7:30 p.m. Various locations, Little Italy. littleitalysd.com
Haunted Houses:
Scream Zone
Sept. 30-Oct. 31. San Diego’s largest haunted experience, the Scream Zone, features terrifying haunts including the House of Horror, KarnEvil, the Haunted Hayride, Walking Dead Prison and more. Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar, 858.755.1161. thescreamzone.com
The Haunted Hotel
Sept. 23-Oct. 31. Visitors will plunge into the chaos of the Hellevator, stroll down Zombie alley, play with creep dolls of Doll Island and take a ride to insanity on the Clown Subway to survive the mayhem of the Twisted Torture Temple. The Haunted Hotel is the longest running haunted house in San Diego and listed as one of the top 13 haunted houses in America by Haunt World Magazine. 424 Market St., Gaslamp Quarter, 619.696.7227. hauntedhotel.com
The Haunted Trail of Balboa Park
Sept. 30-Oct. 31. Located in Balboa Park, the mile-long Haunted Trail is filled with monsters, voodoo masters, and horror icons like The Ring Girl, the Esorcist and Annabelle. Run through the eXperiment maze before finding your way into the terrifying trail. Sixth and Juniper, Balboa Park, 619.696.7227. hauntedtrail.net
Halloween at the Whaley House
Oct. 31. San Diego’s most haunted house hosts spooky events all throughout the month of October, including ghost tours, classic horror flicks, spooky nighttime tours and on Halloween evening, a special nighttime event with period music and tales of paranormal encounters. 2476 San Diego Ave., Old Town, 619.297.7511. whaleyhouse.org
Savage House
Sept. 30-Oct. 31. Visitors will enter Savage House at your own peril as the themed haunted attraction immerses them in a storyline fit for a horror film. As an unknown infection sweeps the nation, only the bravest will tour the government funded laboratory and research facility, S.P. Industries. The laboratory is complete with a surgical unit, pharmacy, observation room, containment facilities and a decontamination chamber. 1640 Camino Del Rio North, Mission Valley. savageproductions.org
For the 21+ Crowd:
Haunted Pirate Party
Oct. 22. The haunted pirate-themed party features costume contests, food, games, live music, photo booths, dancing and more, while aboard the ferryboat Berkeley. 21+. 8 p.m.-midnight. $35/pp. 1492 North Harbor Dr., 619.234.9153. sdmaritime.org
WaveHouse Halloween: Beach of the Living Dead
Oct. 28. Things get spooky in Mission Beach as the WaveHouse hosts their annual Halloween party. Enjoy hosted Skyy and Captain Morgan drinks, live music and DJ beats, photo booth fun and more. $30/pp. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. 3125 Ocean Front Walk, Mission Beach, 858.228.9283. belmontpark.com
San Diego Zombie Crawl
Oct. 28-29. San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter gets ghoulish as the Zombie Crawl takes over. Tickets include extended happy hour specials, no cover to 20 downtown nightclubs and bars, 13 welcome shots, plus costume parties, live entertainment and more. Various locations. sandiegozombiecrawl.com
Monster Bash
Oct. 29. So Cal’s infamous San Diego Monster Bash Festival features 5 themed stages, 20+ DJs and performers, an insane $5000 cash costume contest, drink specials and no cover at more than 25 downtown clubs and bars, and so much more! VIP program available. Front Gates at 7th and Market. 21 +. 619.233.5008. sandiegomonsterbash.com
Hallo-wine and Spirits Party
Oct. 29. Celebrate Halloween at San Diego’s famous haunted hotel with costumes, spooky surroundings, eats, drinks and dancing, plus be on the lookout for resident ghost, Kate Morgan. Hotel del Coronado, 1500 Orange Ave., 619.522.8490. hoteldel.com
Hard Rock Halloween: Election Year
Oct. 29. This election year-themed party seeks to “Make Halloween Great Again,” with three floors of wickedly twisted parties, five venues and sounds by top DJs in town as well as major performances from top musical acts. 207 Fifth Ave., Gaslamp Quarter, 619.764.6924. rmdhalloween.com
Halloween Dueling Dizzney at The Shout House
Oct. 29. Head to the Gaslamp Quarter’s dueling piano bar, themed Dueling Dizzney for the night. Costumes and reservations encouraged. 6 p.m.-2 a.m. 655 4th Ave., Gaslamp Quarter, 619.231.6700. sd.theshouthouse.com
Boo Bash at The LOT La Jolla
Oct. 29. Take part in this fun night of Halloween madness at The LOT La Jolla. The free evening will include live entertainment and a competitive costume contest with fabulous prizes. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. 7611 Fay Ave., La Jolla. thelotent.com
Haunted Booze Cruise
Oct. 21, 22. Join Hornblower Cruises for a Halloween themed booze cruise, complete with a costume contest, DJ beats, open bar and raffles for Halloween themed goodies. Wristbands will be picked up at Waterfront Grill (2044 Kettner Blvd., Little Italy). $65/pp. Pier at 1800 North Harbor Dr., San Diego Marina. hauntedboozecruisesandiego.bpt
Pirates and Mermaids Pool Party
Oct. 30. Enjoy a daytime Halloween party poolside or on the dance floor of San Diego’s iconic Lafayette Hotel. Costumes are encouraged at the pirates and mermaids-themed celebration, and guests will dance to live music by Gaby & La Buena Onda, The Stache Bash Family Band and DJ Abby Normal. $15/pp. 12-5 p.m. Lafayette Hotel, 2223 El Cajon Blvd., North Park. lafayettehotelsd.com
